Jane's Addiction

Given that one of the reasons that this "docu-drama" of Jane's Addiction's "Relapse" reunion tour of '97 was supposedly never released after a brief film-fest run years ago was because of its darker portrayal of Jane's, arguably there is nothing shocking about this movie. Unless of course, stripper/dancers gyrating on stage, Dave Navarro admitting he has a drug problem or playing guitar with a vibrator, Stephen Perkins hitting a bong or Perry Farrell being "way fucking out there" is shocking. And considering the debauchery the band got up to during this tour, this may be a good thing (where's the footage of Dave writing a message in blood to Fiona Apple at the KROQ Christmas party?). It's obvious from their commentary that Smith and Ford hold the band in high esteem, and although they allude to the debauchery, the emotional toll the tour takes and Dave's "mosquito bites" (he's on heroin, get it?) often, they offer little critical insight into either the reunion, the events of the tour, or the resulting aftermath, as it's obvious they don't want to dish on the band. This isn't that much of a shock, as the movie offers little in terms of narrative on any of these either, especially on the reasons behind the reformation, the missing Eric Avery or the band's impact pre- and post-"Relapse." However, what Three Days does well is capture some beautifully-shot live performances of Jane's from this tour (even if they edit and cut the songs), when Jane's, even minus Avery, still had some of the fire and magic of its earlier days in them, which they now seemed to have traded in for full-fledged rockstardom. Three Days is worth it for fans for the performances, which are heavy on Nothing's Shocking material, but the whole sub-plot of a bumbling videographer who must plant his seed makes even less sense than some of Perry's interviews. (Sanctuary/EMI)